Who Has The Right to Decide What One Can Do With Their Private Property?

CENTERVILLE’S DEBT

2004 $5,710,000
2009 $ 11,272,000
A 97% INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS!
What do we have to show for it?

As the current Mayor & Council continue to push forward a downtown redevelopment vision, they have delegated the Planning & Zoning Board to have a Public Hearing in regards to recently rezoned “nonconforming” downtown resident’s property. Even though the City can no longer legally eminent domain private property (exception being roads, bridges, parking lots and trails ) they are currently holding hostage many residents in the downtown area. The nonconforming designation stops the citizens from making improvements to their property which might increase its value as these homes wait to be purchased by a developer. Although The Beard Group has backed out of the Downtown Redevelopment citing the poor economy and there are STILL NO OFFERS on the table to purchase these properties our four members of Council and the Mayor continue to hold these fellow Citizens at their mercy.
In their glorious wisdom, they have voted to punt the nonconforming issue to the Planning and Zoning Board for a decision. Could it be that the Mayor and Council believe this board is more qualified to make that decision or is it a duck and cover move?
This push is exploding our debt, property taxes and we ALL are paying the price!

The Planning & Zoning meetings are no longer televised. Ironically, in the interest of "saving money" the Council voted to discontinue this important public service last year.
UPDATE 03/03/2010
The entire Council (excluding Jeff Paar) sat in on the Public Hearing/Input Meeting last night. City Attorney Kurt Glaser and City Administrator Dallas Larson were also in attendance. More information to follow soon.

Third Time's a Charm?

In other infrastructure plans, the council unanimously agreed to apply for a grant — for the third time — to fund a tunnel under County Highway 14 along Clearwater Creek. Larson said this may be the last chance for the city to secure such a grant.
The route would be used for bicyclists and students who want a safer way to cross the road on their way to school, Capra said.
City Engineer Mark Statz (Bonestroo Consultant) said the project has a better chance of getting funded this time by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
“(The safe route) is rising to the top of this next budget cycle,” he said.
One concern about the proposed tunnel is spring flooding of Clearwater Creek, which could submerge the path and render it useless for extended time periods. Partially draining the creek and lowering its level below the proposed path could help alleviate the problem, Statz said.
Another concern was voiced by council member Tom Lee, who believes the added construction will make things worse on Highway 14.
“It will be a nuisance for everyone for more than a day,” he said.
Statz estimated that construction of such a path would take about a month and a half.

Quad Press
Nicholas Backus
Tuesday, 11/18/2008

How much money do you suppose this will cost the citizens of Centerville? Partially draining a creek could be a pretty penny if not completely covered under the proposed grant. The tunnel on Birch Street frequently floods...

Centerville Downtown Redevelopment

The City officials are working closely with The Beard Group to bring new business to town. Take a look at what redevelopment has done for downtown Circle Pines.

If you click the photo to the right you will notice that this is one of the empty buildings currently not leased and The Beard Group phone number (952) 930- 0630 is clearly shown. Link Here
Is this what the citizens of Centerville want? Why is the current council forging ahead with a plan that appears to not work in this economy?

See Mary Capra's statement in the Quad Community Press, Voter's Guide 2008.

(Question 5: What is your stand on redevelopment of older neighborhooods? To what extent should their character be maintained at the expense of increased property values and tax revenue?)

5. Keep the comprehensive plan laid out so one area of the city would not compete with another for commercial. Downtown needs to attract one type of commercial while the industrial part attracts another to keep all areas growing, and not just one commercial area of the community.
We need to focus on having a variety of housing options that will serve the various stages of life; singles, couples, young families, senior citizens and those who need nursing care."

(Question 6: Would you be willing to raise taxes to fund improvements to your district, and if so what improvements?)

6. "I plan on following through with current projects, but for future projects, if all other ways of funding had been exhausted, and there was no other way to cut the budget or provide additional funding for health and safety service, within the city, I would be willing to raise taxes. I have always kept a close watch on our budget and in this difficult economy I will continue to watch the national economic problems, and their impact on our community.

So we are curious Mary, is our nation in an economic crisis, and if so, what are you doing about the impact it IS having on our community?